Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-08-17
Hsi.1d,ehcrser Released.

he walked off, but was arrested on the
streets and taken back. at seven o'clock
in the evening he walked off again. The
taller made grab at him, and the Senator
walked off ND street without molestation.
The sheriff. who was at home at Edinburg,
FIVE miles south Of Woodstock, was tele-
graphed for.
A prominent republican said that it was
more the enemies of Judge Newman than
friends of the Senator's who were advising
him, and that he was in bad hands. Apply
sicisn, who is friend Of the Senator, hav.
ing informed Judge Newman that the Sepa
tors condition was such as 10 render con-
finement dangerous, Judge Newman ap.
pointed commission to ascertain
and certify the fact. Senator Rid
debsrger's friends say he is not in a condi.
ton to know what he is doing.
The commission appointed by Judge New
| man reported as follows: From our knowl
edge of Senator Riddleberger's physical
condition we hereby certify that it is neces
sarv to release him from confinement, he
being an intense sufferer from hemorrhoids,
and the condition of his nervous system rem
dering it necessary
Judge Newman then issued the following
| OfueF !: lO w. H. Obut, ooilCi vi hobouoH
| doah County.-The further execution of the
order of the court sentencing Senator Rid
dleberger to Jail for len days for contempt
of court is hereby suspended until such time
as such physicians rs may be selected by the
court shall certify that the said Fl. II. Rid
! dleberger is in fit condition TO be returned
to Jail, and you will act accordingly"
When Judge Newman gave his opinion in
court yesterday, denying the motion of
members of the bar who, while endorsing
the action of the court in sentencing Sena.
tor Riddleberger to Jail for contempt, prayed
| for remittance of the sentence on the
ground that the prisoner had been sufficient.
| ly punished, the court replied that it had
! been indnlgent to Senator Riddleberger for
long while in consideration of the sup
posed ILL feeling between the court and him,
and while deeply regretting the crcum'
stances rendering it necessary, and tending
further to compIicate matters, yet in con-
sideration of the fact that it had been in.
| formed of sentiment existing threatening
the order of the court, it could not rescind or
| modify its order until the majesty of the
law was recognized. In answer to the plea
of error in adding five additional days, the
court replied that resistance to an order OF
the court in the presence of the court was
contempt OF the court itself.
A prominent county official, republican,
and friend of Senator Riddleberger, said yes
| terday that nine tenths of the republicans
agreed with the Judge 10 the necessity OF
sending the prisoner to Jail, but disagreed on
the question of time of confinement, think.
| ing one hour sufficient to have served the
ends Of Justice.
The following statement was dictated late
last evening by Senator Riddleberger 10 his
! friends much has been said, written and
telegraphed to various papers throughout
the United States concerning Senator Rid
deberger'5 confinement in jail for contempt
of court, much of which is untrue and has
emanated from the minds of bitter personal
enemies to the Senator. The affair has crea-
ted intense excitement, much bitter feeling
and no little alarm throughout this section,
and it would have taken but little more to
fan the embers into fierce flame. Riddle
berger is personally very popular, even with
the bulk of his political enemies, while Judge
Newman is Just the reverse. In order to
give true account of this unhappy affair l
will sum up briefly from the commence
ment. On last Friday evening Senator Rid
dleberger was sent to Jail for contempt of
the county court over which Judge New
man presided, and who is bitter personal
and political enemy of the Senator. The
term was fixed at five days, with an add
tionat term of fpe days because the Judge
claimed that the Senator resisted The sheriff
when he attempted to execute the order of
the court, which is not correct, rs the sheriff
and his deputies will testify at any time and
have 80 stated repeatedly sincs the arrest.
Riddeberger went quietly with the sheriff
to jail, accompanied by large crowd of
friends, who were greatly excited and in-
dignant at the action of Judge Newman,
and insisted that he should not go into Jail,
but the Senator, in order to have no dis
turbanee Of tho peace and no rioting, in
sisted and pleaded with his friends, saying
it was his duty as q law.abiding citizen to
conform to the decision of the court, and be
quietly and smilingly entered the Jail, from
which, by his eloquence and skill as law.
ser, he hae saved So many. Notwithstand
ing his earnest appeal his friends were not
satisfied, and about twelve o'clock that
night tho Jail was entered and he was
rescued therefrom The Senator refused
to TO- but his friends were positive
and very determined, and took him out
against his wishes and his earnest protest.
The officers of the law made no attempt
to rearrest him, and he remained at homo
until Monday morning. Alter spending
Sunday with his family, the Senator voluu.
tarily came from his homo and appeared
at the door of the Jail and surrendered him.
self to the jale.. He remained in Jail await
ing thereturn oflhe judge, who in ashorttime
after sending him TO Jail adjourned court
until Monday morning and left for Seven
Fountains, a summer resort in the mountain
about eight miles from Woodstock, before
the Senator, his attorney or his friends
could take any action in the matter. For
this Judge Newman has been severely CEN
sured, even by his friends, as it was an I'm
heard .of proceeding by Virginia judge.
no lawyer ever having remained in Jail be-
fore the contempt of court more than for a
few hours az it never was understood to be
a punishment, but was done simply to up.
hold the dignity of the court and the law.
Great excitement has prevailed. The SYM